Tippable containers

ABSTRACT

This invention deals with an improvement in pivotal containers. In this invention the mounting on the container which the fork or arm of a truck or other lifting vehicle engages is in the form of a spiral shaped member which at its smallest radius is adapted to engage the ends of the fork or the arms and the member is pivoted so that its larger radius comes into engagement against the underside of the said fork or arm which then clamps the fork or arm to the pivotal mount on the container.

United States Patent [191 Torvund 51' Dec. 24, 1974 $348,715 loll-967TIPPABLE CONTAINERS [76] Inventor: Bjarne Torvund, 5870 0., Ardal,

Norway 22] Filed: Apr. 24, 1973 21 App]. No.: 354,049

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Apr. 28, 1972 Norway 1518/72 I[52] U.S. Cl... 214/315, 220/35 4 [51] Int. Cl. .Q B65g 65/04 [58] Fieldof Search 24/3, 4 D; 220/30.6, 35,

220/91, 92, 94, 96; 224/5 R, 5 W, 5 G; 294/6 7 DC, 69 R, 73; 214/302,312, 313, 314,315,317,318

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,484,122 10/1949 Ross...'224/5 G Kretz 2l4/620 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 870,974 2/1953Germany 214 317 Primary ExaminerRobert G. Sheridan AssistantExaminer-Lawrence J. Oresky Attorney, Agent,-0r FirmLadas, Parry, VonGehr,

Goldsmith & Deschamps 57 ABSTRACT This invention deals with animprovement in pivotal containers. In this invention the mounting on thecontainer which the fork or arm of a truck or other lifting vehicleengages is in the form of a spiral shaped member which at its smallestradius is adapted to engage the ends of the fork or the arms and themember is pivoted so that its larger radius comes into engagementagainst the underside of the said fork or arm which then clamps the forkor arm'to the pivotal mount on the container.

1 Claim, 3 Drawing Figures tippable containers of the type to be liftedby a fork truck for transport to a location of discharge where thecontainer is emptied in that it is pivoted about a pivotal axis, forexample, the container is .driven into engagement against a stationaryedge.

A number of container embodiments for this purpose are previously known,and in. Norwegian Pat. No. 120.409, a container is described havingmountings for co-operation with tapered forks in such a manner that thecontainers are locked to the ends of the fork when the container istipped. The container is also locked in transport position so'that it isprevented from sliding The invention is further explained in thefollowing with reference to the drawing where: I

FIG. 1 illustrates a container effected in accordance with theinvention, viewed from'the'side, and

FIG. 2 illustrates the same containerviewed from the side in raisedposition.

FIG. 3 is a view of the container in discharge posi- .tion.

forwardly on the fork. However, in this known embodiment, it isnecessary for the forks to be tapered in shape, for example, by securingsleeves provided with fittings which co-operate with the containers tothe forks. This is a disadvantage since the sleeves must be removed fromthe forks when these are to be used for transport of other objects. Theoperator may then forget to replace the sleeves or he may be tempted toavoid the extra work connected therewith, and the containers are thentransported and emptied in an unsafe mannen'with risk of injury, both topeople and material. I

Theobject of the present invention is primarily to eliminate the saiddisadvantage by providing a means which permits locking of the containerto the forks, arms or other support members, without it being necessaryto form these members in a special manner adapted to the containerconcerned.

In accordance with the invention, this is achieved by means of amounting which may be locked to the free,

. conventional ends of the forksby pivoting the mounting, the saidpivoting being produced by the ends of the fork immediately the forkbegins to lift the container.

be locked thereto when the container is lifted.

Other features and details of the invention will be clear from theclaims in this application.

The container is a receptacle 1 effected for the purpose with mountings2 for forks 3 (FIG. 2) on a fork truck which is to lift the containerfor transport. In ac- I cordance with the invention, the container isprovided on either side with a pivotable spiral mounting 4 havingpivotal axis at 5. When the fork 3 is to lift the container 1, the forkis driven into the container so that the ends of the fork enter thespiralmountings 4 and,- on lifting, pivot the mountings about axis 5 sothat the mountings are locked to the ends of the fork 3, as illustratedon FIGS. 2 and 3.

On FIG. 3, the container 1 is disposed in discharge position in thatprojecting loops 6 are driven into engagement against an edge, wherebythe containerl tips about axis 5. It is seen on FIG. 3 how the mounting4 is alone in securing the container 1 to the end of the fork 3. Due tothezweight of the'container, and the pivotal point 5 which is eccentricwith respect to the mounting 4, the desired locking on the free ends ofa wholly conventional lifting fork is achieved.

It is advantageous to effect the container 1 such that its centre ofgravity with load is immediately behind the pivotal point 5 so that thecontainer 1, on a slight tipping action will continue 'to tip until theload is discharged, whereafter the container, because of its point ofgravity in empty state, returns to transport position.

Having described my invention, I claim:

adapted to be'lifted by the forks of a fork lift truck comprisingmountings mounted for rotational movement relative to the container onboth sides of said container in the form of a curved spiral shapedmember, said member at its smallest radius portion being adapted toengage and lock onto the tips of said forks such that as its largerradius portion comes into engagement against the underside of the fork,the fork is locked to said member by the resilient clamping actionbetween the smallest and the larger radius portions, whereby thecontainer can be pivoted relative to said forks and thereby dumped.

1. The improvement in pivotal containers which are adapted to be liftedby the forks of a fork lift truck comprising mountings mounted forrotational movement relative to the container on both sides of saidcontainer in the form of a curved spiral shaped member, said member atits smallest radius portion being adapted to engage and lock onto thetips of said forks such that as its larger radius portion comes intoengagement against the underside of the fork, the fork is locked to saidmember by the resilient clamping action between the smallest and thelarger radius portions, whereby the container can be pivoted relative tosaid forks and thereby dumped.